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Study Abroad in Glasgow, Scotland

The Sanford School of Public Policy study-abroad program with the University of Glasgow was initiated in 1982 by Founding Director and Professor of Public Policy Joel Fleishman. It is a unique and highly popular feature of the Public Policy major.

Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. The university is famous for its contributions to political economy and moral philosophy, making it a particularly good location for students to engage in public policy studies.

The city of Glasgow is an exciting locale, with a varied array of cultural activities and entertainment. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Glasgow grew to a population of over one million and was the fourth-largest city in Europe, after London, Paris, and Berlin. Today, Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and the third largest in the United Kingdom. In 1990, Glasgow was named the "Cultural Capital of Europe" by the European Community.

Offered each fall, the program begins with a visit to London, featuring meetings with members of Parliament and visits to key cultural and political institutions. Additionally, students typically travel to other sites of political and historical interest in Scotland.

"The Duke in Glasgow program allowed me to contextualize public policy in the United Kingdom amid Brexit. While the vote to leave the European Union was on behalf of the entire UK, most Scottish people did not want this. This in turn fueled the long debate for Scottish devolution. Duke in Glasgow allowed me to closely examine devolution's origins and its complexities.

My cohort had the opportunity to visit many places including Edinburgh. The picture is of me standing in New Calton Burial Ground with Arthur's Seat in the distance. Sunsets in Scotland are some of the most beautiful I have seen.

During the semester, I was challenged to become independent and maintain a positive outlook when things didn't turn out the way I wanted. My time there taught me to have the utmost faith in myself." - Paulos Muruts '19

"Spending a semester in Glasgow, Scotland not only taught me a lot about a different culture, but it taught me a lot about myself. Studying abroad allowed me to become more independent, and since I didn't have as many extracurricular activities, I was able to choose freely what I wanted to do (aside from my classes) week to week. The majority of that included traveling to various parts of Great Britain and Europe.

The picture is one of me in the Highlands of Scotland, the wildest and most gorgeous part of Scotland in my opinion. If you plan on traveling to Scotland, make sure to schedule a trip here! You won't regret it!" — Sydney Thomas